Bhagavata Purana

इति क्षिप्त्वा शितैर्बाणैर्विरथीकृत्य पौण्ड्रकम्। शिरोऽवृश्चद्रथाङ्गेन वज्रेणेन्द्रो यथा गिरेः

Thus, having struck with sharp arrows and deprived Paundraka of his chariot, he severed his head with a chariot wheel, as Indra would a mountain with his thunderbolt.

तथा काशीपतेः कायाच्छिर उत्कृत्य पत्रिभिः। न्यपातयत्काशीपुर्यां पद्मकोशमिवानिलः

In the same way, he cut off the head of the king of Kashi from his body with arrows and cast it down in the city of Kashi, like the wind drops a lotus bud.

एवं मत्सरिणम्हत्वा पौण्ड्रकं ससखं हरिः। द्वारकामाविशत्सिद्धैर्गीयमानकथामृतः

Having thus slain the envious Paundraka along with his ally, Hari entered Dvaraka, as the perfected beings sang nectar-like tales.

स नित्यं भगवद्ध्यान प्रध्वस्ताखिलबन्धनः। बिभ्राणश्च हरे राजन्स्वरूपं तन्मयोऽभवत्

He, constantly meditating on the Blessed Lord, freed from all bonds, and bearing the form of Hari, O King, became absorbed in Him.

शिरः पतितमालोक्य राजद्वारे सकुण्डलम्। किमिदं कस्य वा वक्त्रमिति संशिशिरे जनाः

Seeing the severed head, adorned with earrings, at the royal gate, people wondered, 'What is this? Whose face could this be?'

राज्ञः काशीपतेर्ज्ञात्वा महिष्यः पुत्रबान्धवाः। पौराश्च हा हता राजन्नाथ नाथेति प्रारुदन्

Recognizing it as the head of the king of Kashi, his queens, sons, relatives, and the citizens wailed, 'Alas, the king is slain! Our protector is gone!'

सुदक्षिणस्तस्य सुतः कृत्वा संस्थाविधिं पतेः। निहत्य पितृहन्तारं यास्याम्यपचितिं पितुः

Sudakshina, his son, performed the funeral rites for his father and resolved, 'I will destroy my father's killer and thus honor my father.'

इत्यात्मनाभिसन्धाय सोपाध्यायो महेश्वरम्। सुदक्षिणोऽर्चयामास परमेण समाधिना

Thus resolved, together with his priest, Sudakshina worshipped Maheshvara with supreme concentration.

प्रीतोऽविमुक्ते भगवांस्तस्मै वरमदाद्विभुः। पितृहन्तृवधोपायं स वव्रे वरमीप्सितम्

Pleased in Avimukta, the Lord granted him a boon; he chose the boon he desired—the means to slay his father's killer.

दक्षिणाग्निं परिचर ब्राह्मणैः सममृत्विजम्। अभिचारविधानेन स चाग्निः प्रमथैर्वृतः

Worship the southern fire together with Brahmins and the officiating priest, performing the ritual of sorcery; that fire, surrounded by spirits—

साधयिष्यति सङ्कल्पमब्रह्मण्ये प्रयोजितः। इत्यादिष्टस्तथा चक्रेकृष्णायाभिचरन्व्रती

—when employed against one who is unrighteous, will accomplish your intent.' Thus instructed, he performed the sorcery rite against Krishna, observing the vow.

ततोऽग्निरुत्थितः कुण्डान्मूर्तिमानतिभीषणः। तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुरङ्गारोद्गारिलोचनः

Then, from the fire-pit arose a terrifying embodied fire, with blazing copper-red hair and beard, and eyes emitting streams of flames.

दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीदण्ड कठोरास्यः स्वजिह्वया। आलिहन्सृक्वणी नग्नो विधुन्वंस्त्रिशिखं ज्वलत्

With fierce fangs, a dreadful brow, a harsh mouth, licking his lips with his own tongue, naked, shaking a blazing trident, and making a rattling sound—

पद्भ्यां तालप्रमाणाभ्यां कम्पयन्नवनीतलम्। सोऽयधावद्वृतो भूतैर्द्वारकां प्रदहन्दिशः

With feet as large as palm trees, shaking the earth, he advanced, surrounded by spirits, burning all directions as he headed for Dvaraka.

तमाभिचारदहनमायान्तं द्वारकौकसः। विलोक्य तत्रसुः सर्वे वनदाहे मृगा यथा

Seeing that sorcerous fire approaching, the inhabitants of Dvaraka were seized with terror, like deer in a forest fire.

अक्षैः सभायां क्रीडन्तं भगवन्तं भयातुराः। त्राहि त्राहि त्रिलोकेश वह्नेः प्रदहतः पुरम्

Frightened, they approached Bhagavan, who was playing dice in the assembly hall, and cried, 'Save us, O Lord of the three worlds, from the fire burning the city!'

श्रुत्वा तज्जनवैक्लव्यं दृष्ट्वा स्वानां च साध्वसम्। शरण्यः सम्प्रहस्याह मा भैष्टेत्यवितास्म्यहम्

Hearing their distress and seeing his people afraid, the refuge of all smiled and said, 'Do not fear; I am your protector.'

सर्वस्यान्तर्बहिःसाक्षी कृत्यां माहेश्वरीं विभुः। विज्ञाय तद्विघातार्थं पार्श्वस्थं चक्रमादिशत्

The all-pervading Lord, witness within and without all, recognized the sorcerous act of Maheshvara and, to thwart it, ordered his discus, which stood at his side.

तत्सूर्यकोटिप्रतिमं सुदर्शनं जाज्वल्यमानं प्रलयानलप्रभम्। स्वतेजसा खं ककुभोऽथ रोदसी चक्रं मुकुन्दास्त्रं अथाग्निमार्दयत्

That Sudarshana discus, blazing like ten million suns, shining with the radiance of the fire at dissolution, illuminated the sky, the directions, and the earth by its own brilliance; then, the weapon of Mukunda, it subdued the fiery being.

कृत्यानलः प्रतिहतः स रथान्गपाणेर्। अस्त्रौजसा स नृप भग्नमुखो निवृत्तः। वाराणसीं परिसमेत्य सुदक्षिणं तं। सर्त्विग्जनं समदहत्स्वकृतोऽभिचारः

O King, the fiery being created by the ritual, struck down by the power of the discus-wielder's weapon, was broken and turned back, its face defeated; then, entering Varanasi, it consumed Sudakshina and his priests—the very abhicara they had performed turned upon them.

चक्रं च विष्णोस्तदनुप्रविष्टं वाराणसीं साट्टसभालयापणाम्। सगोपुराट्टालककोष्ठसङ्कुलां सकोशहस्त्यश्वरथान्नशालिनीम्

Then, the discus of Vishnu entered Varanasi, with its palaces, assembly halls, and markets, crowded with gates, towers, and granaries, filled with treasuries, elephants, horses, chariots, and stores of grain.

दग्ध्वा वाराणसीं सर्वां विष्णोश्चक्रं सुदर्शनम्। भूयः पार्श्वमुपातिष्ठत्कृष्णस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः

Having burned all of Varanasi, the Sudarshana discus of Vishnu once again stood by the side of Krishna, the doer of flawless deeds.

य एनं श्रावयेन्मर्त्य उत्तमःश्लोकविक्रमम्। समाहितो वा शृणुयात्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

Whoever, with focused mind, recites or hears this account of the exploits of the praiseworthy Lord, is freed from all sins.

रैवतके द्विविद्वधः - श्रीराजोवाच - ( अनुष्टुप् ) भूयोऽहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि रामस्याद्भुतकर्मणः । अनन्तस्याप्रमेयस्य यदन्यत् कृतवान् प्रभुः

The king said: Once more I wish to hear of the wondrous deeds of Rama, the immeasurable and infinite Lord—what else did that master accomplish?

श्रीशुक उवाच - नरकस्य सखा कश्चिद् द्विविदो नाम वानरः । सुग्रीवसचिवः सोऽथ भ्राता मैन्दस्य वीर्यवान्

Shuka said: There was a certain monkey named Dvivida, a friend of Naraka, a counselor of Sugriva, and the valiant brother of Mainda.

सख्युः सोऽपचितिं कुर्वन् वानरो राष्ट्रविप्लवम् । पुरग्रामाकरान् घोषान् अदहद् वह्निमुत्सृजन्

That monkey, seeking to avenge his friend, brought ruin to the land—he set fire to cities, villages, settlements, and cowherds' hamlets.

क्वचित् स शैलानुत्पाट्य तैर्देशान् समचूर्णयत् । आनर्तान् सुतरामेव यत्रास्ते मित्रहा हरिः

Sometimes, uprooting mountains, he crushed regions with them—especially in Anarta, where the slayer of his friend, Hari, resided.

क्वचित् समुद्रमध्यस्थो दोर्भ्यां उत्क्षिप्य तज्जलम् । देशान् नागायुतप्राणो वेलाकूले न्यमज्जयत्

At times, standing in the middle of the ocean, he would lift up its waters with his arms and submerge lands along the shore, possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants.

आश्रमान् ऋषिमुख्यानां कृत्वा भग्नवनस्पतीन् । अदूषयत् शकृत् मूत्रैः अग्नीन् वैतानिकान् खलः

He destroyed the hermitages of great sages by breaking their trees, and, wicked as he was, defiled their sacred fires with urine and excrement.